Signal



Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

- ,nien

HENRY HAFER, F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SIGNAL. f l

Application filed March 14, 1921. Serial No. 452,155.

Be it known that I, HENRY HAFER, a citizen of Austria, and a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Signal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signals.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and eiiicient signal for use in connec-` tion with vehicles to indicate to vehicles approaching from the rear or .from the front that the vehicle bearing the signal is about to stop or to change its direction.

YAnother object of the invention is to provide an improved signal of the character mentioned having illuminating means where;-

\ by the signal is made visible at night.

Other objectsl of the invention will appear from thefollowing description, reference being made to the drawing in which- Y i Fig. 1 shows the invention applied to an automobile. A v L 1 Fig. 2 is an elevation of my improved signal detached from an automobile.

Fig. 3 is an inner end elevation.

Fig. 4 is' a longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view.`

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view 'showing details of the invention.

1n the particular embodiment shown my invention is of a type adapted to be applied to the windshield support or to any other appropriate location in, which the signal can be properly controlled.

As shown, ythe signal and the controlling means therefor are mounted in ai bracket comprising a tubular portion 1 and bracket arms 2. In the construction shown the bracket arms 2 are provided with cooperating clamp members 3. The windshield support f1 is claimed between the arms 2 and the clamping members 3. The clamping devices for setting the clamps comprise screws 5 mounted in threaded holes in the clamping members 3 and having their ends bearing against the arms 2; and screw bolts 6 passing through threaded holes in the arms 2 and also through threaded holes through the clamping members 3 and constituting means for setting the clamps. f The tubular portion 1 of the bracket supports a case comprising a cylindrical member 7 and an inner endl wall 8. The hub of the end wall 8 is secured to a sleeve 9 enclosing the tubular part 1 of the bracketv The case is held rigidly in proper adjustment on the bracket by screws r10 passing through the Vhub of the end wall 8 and engaging in threaded Aholes in the tubular arm lof the bracket. Holes for the re-` ception of screws 101 are formed at Vdifferent intervals along the bracket arm so thaty the length of the signal device maybe varied by securing ythe case at selected dii'sf tances from the end of the bracket arm. The outer end of the case comprisesv a frame 1 1 and an appropriately colored and shaped glass panel 12 which, when the vehicle is stationary, may be made to serve as a parking signal. or lamp, and may 'alsoftake the place of a tail light whenV the vehicle is in use. v Y

The forward and rear sides of the caser V7 are cutout to forni openings, and the openings so formed are coveredi by windows 13. A hollow'rod Mis mounted for rotation in the'part 1 of the-bracket. The rod 14 eX; tends into the case 7; and supports 'a cylinder 15- upon which are arranged appropriate; signals that may be brought opposite 'the' windows 13 by turning the signal device properly. As the windows k15 are diametrically opposite-the preferred arrangement is to provide similar signals and arrange them diametricall'y opposite each othery on the cylinder 15, lso that vlike signals will be` shown through the forward and rear windows-13 at the same time.` For instance, as shown in Fig. 2,`the signal Stop is opposite the:

rear window 13,;andv it will be understood that the same signal is shown opposite the front window 13 during the time that this signal isat the rear'window. It is intended that other signals indicating change of direction or that ythe vehicle is proceeding straight ahead, -`or to give, other desired notice to approaching vehicles, are also on the cylinder 15 and may be placed opposite the front and rear windows by proper operation of the device.

An electric lampi 16 is supported by the inner end of the rod 14 and awire 17 in circuit with the lamp leads to a binding post 18. The binding post 18 is supported byv a spring'19- attached to a lever 2O that is secured tothe inner end of the rod 141-. The

Abinding post 18 is insulated from the. lever l port 22 carried by the bracket. A circuit wire 23 is connected with the support 22, so

that when the contact member 18 is broughtV into contact :with any one ofthe contact members 21 the circuit is completed and the lamp 16 is lighted. However, when the con'- tact member 18 is out of contact with the contact members 21 the circuit to the lainp is open and the lamp is not lighted.

The member 22 has an arcuate edge provided with a number of notches 24 adapted to receive a detent 25 movably mounted in the lever 2O and actuated toward the support22 by a spring 26. Since the detent is spring-pressed into the notches 24 it is apparent that the lever 2O will be latched and held from movement by such engage ment of the detent 25 in said notches. Sincel the walls ofthe notches are inelined the lever may be manually moved in either .direction. 'I he notches y221, are arranged relative to the contact members 21 so that the circuit to the'lamp is closed in any'posi tion of the lever in .whichsaid latching eneasement QGGUIS.-

The arrangement is such-that when the lever 20L is in the position shown two identi-V be displayed opposite the windows 13, and

, so on. Y

From the foregoing' it will be seen that my invention completely 'serves all of its intended purposes and. that by use of the device all useful and necessary signals may n be given. The fact that the signal is illuminated automatically and as an incident to itsV operationris a useful feature, and the further fact that the signal may be used as a parking signal is also an advantage.

I do not restrict myself to unessential feay tures, but what I claim and desire to secure 1. A signal of the characterdescribed,

comprising a rigid horizontal arm, va case rigidly supported by the arm and having its outer end at right angles to its forward and rear sides, al semispherical, outwardly projecting window closing the outer end of the case, and being visible from the front and 'rear and serving as ai parking light, windows or out of line with said windows, and

an electric circuit controlled by said` lever for illuminating said lamp.

2. A signal of the character described, comprising a rigid horizontal arin, a. case supported by said arm, means for holding said case rigidly iii different desired positions along the length of thearin, a semi,- spherical,

outer end of said arin, and being visible from the front and rear and serving asa parking light, a cylinder rotatively mounted within the case and having an open end adjacent to said window, signals on the periphery of said cylinder, windows in the for# ward and rear sides of said case, a lamp within said Cylinder between said forward and rear windows and in line with said firstnamed window, a lever for turning said l outwardly projecting window closing the en d of said case Opposite .the

cylinder to and'frOlii different positions toV place different signals in or out ofy line with said forward and rear windows as desired, a device for turning said cylinder to place the signals as aforesaid, and an electric circultcontrolled by said ,device for illiiminatingsaid lamp only when the signals are op- 1 posite said forward and rear windows.

HENRY HAFER. 

